Category: Science
Microsoft’s quantum chip got an upgrade. Critics are still skeptical
Swapping materials in its Majorana 2 chip boosted the effectiveness of quantum bits that rely on the math of topology to reduce errors, Microsoft says.
China launches new Long March 12B rocket, reportedly without any safety warning
China’s Long March 12B rocket has blasted off on its maiden voyage carrying more Qianfan “Thousand Sails” satellites, during a surprise launch for which there
SIGMA 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport lens review
Sigma’s 60-600mm Sport lens is one of the most versatile wildlife lenses around, but can its huge zoom range outweigh the heavy design?
17,000-year-old stripes of red in a Welsh cave are the oldest rock art in the UK, study finds
Over a century after a red-lined cave wall was discovered, scientists have determined that it represents the U.K.’s oldest rock art.
5 ways to reduce everyday exposure to ‘forever chemicals’
Mara Hoplamazian has spent years reporting on ‘forever chemicals,’ or PFAS. Here’s what they’ve learned about what may help limit everyday exposure to the contaminant.
‘Animals were imprisoned in jails where humans were incarcerated’: The bizarre trials of the Late Middle Ages — and surprising lack of criminal cats
Animal trials took place across Europe from the Late Middle Ages until the end of the 18th century. In this excerpt from “Cats: A History”
Rusty, orange water ‘bleeds’ across brilliant Bolivian lagoon — Earth from space
A 2015 astronaut photo shows dark-orange water that appears to bleed across the bright-white floor of a high-altitude salt lake in the Bolivian Andes.
NASA confirms meteor exploded over northeastern US with force of 230 tons of TNT
NASA shared an initial analysis of a 5-foot-wide fireball meteor that exploded in the sky over the northeastern U.S. on Saturday, May 30.
Scientists reveal the origin of the Euphrates — a river that fed the ‘cradle of civilization’
The Euphrates River fueled the “cradle of civilization,” and a new study reveals the waterway was born of two other ancient rivers around 3.6 million
What is jet lag, and how can you avoid it?
Long-haul travelers often feel totally out of whack for several days after arriving at their destination. Jet lag is a natural phenomenon, but can it
The math of choosing a restaurant meal is revealed in Richard Feynman’s notes
Physicist Richard Feynman turned a lunch dilemma into a math problem. Researchers finally cracked his notes and found people approximate his solution on their own.
New research helps explain how human brains are able decode speech so quickly
Scientists are learning how the brain extracts discrete words from a continuous stream of sounds.
The potential consequences of cutting funds for behavioral science
The Trump administration continues its assault on science. One little-known area that’s been neglected in funding this year is federal research into social, behavioral and